These athletes will be representing Belfast in LA this summer, but to get there they need your help.

Athletes across Northern Ireland competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games this summer were welcomed to the special reception with the Lord Mayor of Belfast Nichola Mallon.

She paid tribute to local athletes selected for the Games and encouraged businesses across Northern Ireland to get behind the Special Olympics LA2015 Support an Athlete campaign.

She said: "Special Olympics athletes, including Carol and Kirsty are a great source of inspiration and I am proud to support our local athletes as they prepare to compete on a World Stage this summer.

"I would encourage others to get behind the Special Olympics Ireland Support an Athlete programme in the run up to LA2015."

Twelve Ulster athletes are set to compete on the world stage, having been selected to compete for Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015.

The athletes come from right across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Ballynahinch, Coleraine, Lisburn, Lurgan, Strabane and Scarva, and are amongst 88 Team Ireland athletes that will travel to Los Angeles to compete at the World Games this summer.

To cover the cost of sending Team Ireland to the Games, Special Ireland Olympics needs to raise £343,848. The organisation will be reaching out to businesses and companies over the coming weeks and months to seek pledges of support for its Support an Athlete programme.

This covers all aspects for each athlete due to represent Ireland at the World Games including sports training, travel cost, uniforms, medical and equipment.

Special Olympics Ulster athletes and Team Ireland squad members for LA2015, Carole Catling, 37, a table tennis athlete from Abbots Cross Special Olympics Club in Newtownabbey and Kirsty Devlin, 20, a rhythmic gymnast from Salto Special Olympics Club in Belfast were present at a recent reception with the Lord Mayor.

Shaun Cassidy, regional director of Special Olympics Ulster, said: "Over the coming months we will be working hard to generate the necessary funds to send our Team Ireland athletes to the World Games.

"Special Olympics Ulster is calling on businesses across Northern Ireland to be generous in their support of our local athletes as they prepare for this important milestone in their Special Olympics journey."